Course: 11     Wind Dir: E    Force: 2-4      Race Officer - John Gledowe

See Results of Early Summer Series   Report on the L'Aber Wrac'h Race by Rob Hewett

Sailors returning to the Helford River from St Mawes and Fowey reported a "sloppy" sea state, not unusual with an easterly wind. Officer of the Day, John Gleadowe, sent the eight yachts off on a two mile beat out into Falmouth Bay. Gotcha, the Corby 29, was going particularly well up the beat into the choppy water, but Jacobi's greater weight got her to the windward mark first, followed not far behind by Gotcha, with Jetta further back in third place. Then came a lively spinnaker run back towards the River, surfing down the waves, with Jacobi recording about 18 - 19 knots at times. Jetta's crew were late getting their spinnaker ready, and then lost out to Jabadeo when a last minute problem needed sorting out. The two J92s, Jetta and Jabadeo, were almost exactly matched for speed downwind, but Jabadeo eventually eased by, with both boats surging forward as the waves picked up the stern. Conditions were quite testing for the tiny Micro, Hatty, on the beat to the windward mark, and the other PY yacht, Kudu, was also overtaken on the first beat by most of the larger boats. Gotcha continued to sail well throughout the race and at the finish were only twenty-three seconds behind the winner, Jacobi. Jetta managed to regain third place from Jabadeo, who was almost caught by Big Purple on the last leg to the finish at Trebah. Neither Big Purple nor Demolition found conditions to their liking, but even so, managed to finish only seven minutes after the winner, on corrected time.

With only two races remaining, the third consecutive win for Jacobi puts her in a very strong position to take the Summer Wednesday Series.